The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-04-09
WASHINGTON rInTT,Rv7.
WAgnINaror. -AnrlI /. -


f'AsiINSAoN, april Il 1881.
From our Regular Correspondent.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
siouers are not likely to mature al
organization this week. They are All
lin the city and ready 10 begin. but
Judge Cooley, Of Michigan, bias raised
the point that the Commission cannot
be organized until after the 9th Of
4 April, because the law will not TAXI
| effect until that date. Said he, awe
will not be Commissioners until then,
and we have no right to organize be.
FORE"
1t is said the first question the Com
mission will take mp for consideration
will be regarding an application by
the associated railroads of Kentucky,
Tennessee and Alabama to be allowed
special rates on through traffic with
out affecting their local traffic on &C.
count Of the competition of the Ohio
and Mississippi river lines. 1t is held
that the Commission is authorized to
grant special rates in such cases if it
finds the water competition materially
affects the through traffic of tho roads.
AT the White House, matters have
been very quiet this week. The Pres
ident IS devoting a large share of his
attention to consideration of the i'm
portant appointments soon to be made.
The newly appointed Austrian Minis
ter having arrived in Washington, 1t
is proboble that a Minister from this
country will soon be appointed in re-
turn. The Treasury changes are still
unannouneed, and a good deal of at
tentiOn is now being bestowed by the
public upon the selection by the Pres
identsef the three commissioners for
the Pacific Railroad investigation The
task Of finding the right men for these
places proves almost as difficult as was
the construction of the Interstate Com
mission.
Every week some enemy Of the
administration announces with great
Positiveness that a specified member
of the cabinet is about TO resign. Last
week it was Secretary Endicott. This
week it was Secretary Whitney. Next
week it will be the Attorney General,
or the Postmaster-General or the Sec
Rotary Of the Interior. OF all these
foolish inventions probably the most
absurd is the latest allegation, namely
that Mr.. Whitney is dissatisfied with
his position and wants the Treasury
portfolio.
Mr.. Whitney's position" lost now
Is about as satisfactory" il every way |
as is conceivable. He is wealthy, sue
eesslul, influential and the centre Of .
metropolitan society Those who ale
closest 10 him know that he would not
Esoe2t the Seeretsryshrp of the Treas
~ II i; were offered to him, and eve
-Tooiy knows he would not wish to
'ssaZu e1 the heels Of the greatest trl
1@Ph Of his life-the letting Of CON
tracts On favorable terms for the
5c2utry for the immediate construc-
lion Of powerful navy.
After all the denunciation that
President Cleveland received at the
laods of his enemies for the vigorous
exercise Of his veto power with regard
o fraudulent pension claims, a recent
Incident Is worthy of mention. On
he 18th of February the President I
'etoed private pension bill on the
ground that the soldier was entitled to
a greater relief under the law than
was accorded by the act, as was shown
BY the records of the Pension Bureau.
a fortnight ago he received a letter
from the claimants attorney saving
hat the pension certificate had not vet
reached the beneficiary Thereupon
.he President wrote an autograph let
Yer 10 the Commissioner of Pensions
nquiring into the causes of DELAY.
This looks as If be were vigiIaut in
behalf Of the worthy soldiers as well
as careful Of the interests of the pub
&c treasury, and that bis patient ap-
ollcatlon to the details of his Office is
nereifuI as well as just.
Bnt of all the bills which have ever
oeen suggested for the relief of men
n any way connected with the war.
he worst, probably, was one received
few days before Congress adjourned
BY United States Senator. 1t was
by citizen of his State, and
was well drawn. 1t provided for the
payment with interest, of the money
expended by every man drafted in the
war in securing a substitute. The
Senator was asked if his constituent
vas really in earnest IN asking him to
introduce that bill. "UDdoubLedly."
vas his reply, "and furthermore"
continued he, ~ think there is as
much sense in it as there was in some /
VI the so-called pension measures
which have been introduced in the
senate and House during the last five
ears